That looks to have been burnt from sun or heat.
Where do you keep your plant?

I keep it under a majesty palm next to a sliding glass window. It gets at most 1 hour of sunlight and there are no heat sources i know of next to it.

Hi Eric,

If it's just on one side, it could be as a result of sunburn through the window glass depending on how close to the glass it is. Does the sun shine directly on the glass at any time?

Another cause could be from using a leaf polish or leaf gloss which is too strong or perhaps it may have been sprayed with an aerosol insecticide (fly spray).

Whatever has caused it, it does look like a burn of some type be it from radiated heat or from a chemical.

All the best, Nev.

Thank you, I suppose it could be sunburn. At one point of day the sun does directly shine on it, but i figured this was healthy for the plant. i guess not haha

Hi Eric,

Sunlight is healthy for most plants in degrees, but not a lot of bromeliads can take the full sun; and certainly not a plant like yours which is a Guzmania. These prefer a lower light level in my experience.

Fine inside while they are flowering but keep them back from the window when the sun's on it.
Also sometimes if the glass has a tiny defect in it, it can also have a magnifying effect and this compounds the problem.

All the best, Nev.